Apparatus, system and method of performing a fine timing measurement (FTM) procedure

ABSTRACT

Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of performing a Time of Flight (ToF) measurement. For example, a first wireless device may include a radio to communicate a discovery frame with a second wireless device, the discovery frame including an initiator indication to indicate whether a sender of the discovery frame is to be an initiator or a responder of a Time of Flight (ToF) measurement procedure, and availability information to indicate a wireless channel and one or more time intervals; and a controller to perform the ToF measurement procedure with the second wireless device over the wireless channel during the one or more time intervals, the controller be either the initiator or responder of the ToF measurement according to the initiator indication.

CROSS REFERENCE

This Application claims the benefit of and priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/006,353 entitled “User station andmethod of peer-to-peer ranging using fine time measurement”, filed Jun.2, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein generally relate to performing a Time ofFlight (ToF) measurement.

BACKGROUND

Various applications use range information between devices.

The range information may enable, for example, users of the devices tomeet new people and/or to use one or more services provided by thedevices, e.g., when the devices are in proximity to each other.

The range information may enable, for example, one or more advertisersof services to interact with potential clients based on the rangeinformation.

The surge in the number and density of devices connected to theInternet, e.g., Internet of Things (IoT) devices, may increase the needfor determining range information between devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in thefigures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to otherelements for clarity of presentation. Furthermore, reference numeralsmay be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogouselements. The figures are listed below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a system, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a Fine Time Measurement (FTM)procedure, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of operations between a first wirelesscommunication device and a second wireless communication device, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of operations between a first wirelesscommunication device and a second wireless communication device, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow-chart illustration of a method of performinga Time of Flight (ToF) measurement, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a product, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments.However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the artthat some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, unitsand/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscurethe discussion.

Discussions herein utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing”,“computing”, “calculating”, “determining”, “establishing”, “analyzing”,“checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) ofa computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or otherelectronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform datarepresented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within thecomputer's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computer's registersand/or memories or other information storage medium that may storeinstructions to perform operations and/or processes.

The terms “plurality” and “a plurality”, as used herein, include, forexample, “multiple” or “two or more”. For example, “a plurality ofitems” includes two or more items.

References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “demonstrativeembodiment”, “various embodiments” etc., indicate that the embodiment(s)so described may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes theparticular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated useof the phrase “in one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the sameembodiment, although it may.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinaladjectives “first”, “second”, “third” etc., to describe a common object,merely indicate that different instances of like objects are beingreferred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so describedmust be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking,or in any other manner.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with various devices andsystems, for example, a User Equipment (UE), a Mobile Device (MD), awireless station (STA), a Personal Computer (PC), a desktop computer, amobile computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tabletcomputer, a server computer, a handheld computer, a handheld device, aPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a handheld PDA device, anon-board device, an off-board device, a hybrid device, a vehiculardevice, a non-vehicular device, a mobile or portable device, a consumerdevice, a non-mobile or non-portable device, a wireless communicationstation, a wireless communication device, a wireless Access Point (AP),a wired or wireless router, a wired or wireless modem, a video device,an audio device, an audio-video (A/V) device, a wired or wirelessnetwork, a wireless area network, a Wireless Video Area Network (WVAN),a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless LAN (WLAN), a Personal AreaNetwork (PAN), a Wireless PAN (WPAN), and the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with devices and/or networksoperating in accordance with existing Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) Alliance(WFA) Specifications (including WFA Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN)Specification) and/or future versions and/or derivatives thereof,devices and/or networks operating in accordance with existingWireless-Gigabit-Alliance (WGA) specifications (Wireless GigabitAlliance, Inc WiGig MAC and PHY Specification Version 1.1, April 2011,Final specification) and/or future versions and/or derivatives thereof,devices and/or networks operating in accordance with existing IEEE802.11 standards (IEEE 802.11-2012, IEEE Standard for Informationtechnology—Telecommunications and information exchange between systemsLocal and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements Part 11:Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY)Specifications, Mar. 29, 2012; IEEE802.11ac-2013 (“IEEE P802.11ac-2013,IEEE Standard for Information Technology—Telecommunications andInformation Exchange Between Systems—Local and Metropolitan AreaNetworks—Specific Requirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium AccessControl (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications—Amendment 4:Enhancements for Very High Throughput for Operation in Bands below 6GHz”, December, 2013); IEEE 802.11ad (“IEEE P802.11ad-2012, IEEEStandard for Information Technology—Telecommunications and InformationExchange Between Systems—Local and Metropolitan Area Networks—SpecificRequirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) andPhysical Layer (PHY) Specifications—Amendment 3: Enhancements for VeryHigh Throughput in the 60 GHz Band”, 28 Dec. 2012)) and/or futureversions and/or derivatives thereof, devices and/or networks operatingin accordance with existing Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) Alliance (WFA)Peer-to-Peer (P2P) specifications (WiFi P2P technical specification,version 1.2, 2012) and/or future versions and/or derivatives thereof,devices and/or networks operating in accordance with existing cellularspecifications and/or protocols, e.g., 3rd Generation PartnershipProject (3GPP), 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) and/or future versionsand/or derivatives thereof, units and/or devices which are part of theabove networks, and the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one way and/or two-wayradio communication systems, cellular radio-telephone communicationsystems, a mobile phone, a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, aPersonal Communication Systems (PCS) device, a PDA device whichincorporates a wireless communication device, a mobile or portableGlobal Positioning System (GPS) device, a device which incorporates aGPS receiver or transceiver or chip, a device which incorporates an RFIDelement or chip, a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transceiver ordevice, a Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) transceiver or device, aMultiple Input Single Output (MISO) transceiver or device, a devicehaving one or more internal antennas and/or external antennas, DigitalVideo Broadcast (DVB) devices or systems, multi-standard radio devicesor systems, a wired or wireless handheld device, e.g., a Smartphone, aWireless Application Protocol (WAP) device, or the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one or more types ofwireless communication signals and/or systems, for example, RadioFrequency (RF), Infra Red (IR), Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM),Orthogonal FDM (OFDM), Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access(OFDMA), FDM Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM), Time-Division MultipleAccess (TDMA), Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO), Extended TDMA (E-TDMA),General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), extended GPRS, Code-DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA 2000, single-carrierCDMA, multi-carrier CDMA, Multi-Carrier Modulation (MDM), DiscreteMulti-Tone (DMT), Bluetooth®, Global Positioning System (GPS), Wi-Fi,Wi-Max, ZigBee™, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Global System for Mobilecommunication (GSM), 2G, 2.5G, 3G, 3.5G, 4G, Fifth Generation (5G)mobile networks, 3GPP, Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE advanced, EnhancedData rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), or the like. Other embodiments maybe used in various other devices, systems and/or networks.

The term “wireless device”, as used herein, includes, for example, adevice capable of wireless communication, a communication device capableof wireless communication, a communication station capable of wirelesscommunication, a portable or non-portable device capable of wirelesscommunication, or the like. In some demonstrative embodiments, awireless device may be or may include a peripheral that is integratedwith a computer, or a peripheral that is attached to a computer. In somedemonstrative embodiments, the term “wireless device” may optionallyinclude a wireless service.

The term “communicating” as used herein with respect to a communicationsignal includes transmitting the communication signal and/or receivingthe communication signal. For example, a communication unit, which iscapable of communicating a communication signal, may include atransmitter to transmit the communication signal to at least one othercommunication unit, and/or a communication receiver to receive thecommunication signal from at least one other communication unit. Theverb communicating may be used to refer to the action of transmitting orthe action of receiving. In one example, the phrase “communicating asignal” may refer to the action of transmitting the signal by a firstdevice, and may not necessarily include the action of receiving thesignal by a second device. In another example, the phrase “communicatinga signal” may refer to the action of receiving the signal by a firstdevice, and may not necessarily include the action of transmitting thesignal by a second device.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with a WLAN,e.g., a wireless fidelity (WiFi) network. Other embodiments may be usedin conjunction with any other suitable wireless communication network,for example, a wireless area network, a “piconet”, a WPAN, a WVAN andthe like.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with awireless communication network communicating over a frequency band of 60GHz. However, other embodiments may be implemented utilizing any othersuitable wireless communication frequency bands, for example, anExtremely High Frequency (EHF) band (the millimeter wave (mmWave)frequency band), e.g., a frequency band within the frequency band ofbetween 20 Ghz and 300 GHZ, a WLAN frequency band, a WPAN frequencyband, a frequency band according to the WGA specification, and the like.

The term “antenna”, as used herein, may include any suitableconfiguration, structure and/or arrangement of one or more antennaelements, components, units, assemblies and/or arrays. In someembodiments, the antenna may implement transmit and receivefunctionalities using separate transmit and receive antenna elements. Insome embodiments, the antenna may implement transmit and receivefunctionalities using common and/or integrated transmit/receiveelements. The antenna may include, for example, a phased array antenna,a single element antenna, a set of switched beam antennas, and/or thelike.

The term “station” (STA), as used herein, may include any logical entitythat is a singly addressable instance of a medium access control (MAC)and a physical layer (PHY) interface to a wireless medium (WM).

The phrase “access point” (AP), as used herein, may include an entitythat contains one station (STA) and provides access to distributionservices, via the WM for associated STAs.

The phrase “non-access-point (non-AP) station (STA)”, as used herein,may relate to a STA that is not contained within an AP.

The phrase “peer to peer (PTP or P2P) communication”, as used herein,may relate to device-to-device communication over a wireless link(“peer-to-peer link”) between a pair of devices. The P2P communicationmay include, for example, wireless communication over a direct linkwithin a QoS basic service set (BSS), a tunneled direct-link setup(TDLS) link, a STA-to-STA communication in an independent basic serviceset (IBSS), or the like.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which schematically illustrates a blockdiagram of a system 100, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments system 100 mayinclude a wireless communication network including one or more wirelesscommunication devices, e.g., wireless communication devices 102 and/or140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and/or 140 may include, for example, a UE, an MD, a STA, an AP, a PC, adesktop computer, a mobile computer, a laptop computer, an Ultrabook™computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a server computer, ahandheld computer, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a handhelddevice, a PDA device, a handheld PDA device, an on-board device, anoff-board device, a hybrid device (e.g., combining cellular phonefunctionalities with PDA device functionalities), a consumer device, avehicular device, a non-vehicular device, a mobile or portable device, anon-mobile or non-portable device, a mobile phone, a cellular telephone,a PCS device, a PDA device which incorporates a wireless communicationdevice, a mobile or portable GPS device, a DVB device, a relativelysmall computing device, a non-desktop computer, a “Carry Small LiveLarge” (CSLL) device, an Ultra Mobile Device (UMD), an Ultra Mobile PC(UMPC), a Mobile Internet Device (MID), an “Origami” device or computingdevice, a device that supports Dynamically Composable Computing (DCC), acontext-aware device, a video device, an audio device, an A/V device, aSet-Top-Box (STB), a Blu-ray disc (BD) player, a BD recorder, a DigitalVideo Disc (DVD) player, a High Definition (HD) DVD player, a DVDrecorder, a HD DVD recorder, a Personal Video Recorder (PVR), abroadcast HD receiver, a video source, an audio source, a video sink, anaudio sink, a stereo tuner, a broadcast radio receiver, a flat paneldisplay, a Personal Media Player (PMP), a digital video camera (DVC), adigital audio player, a speaker, an audio receiver, an audio amplifier,a gaming device, a data source, a data sink, a Digital Still camera(DSC), a media player, a Smartphone, a television, a music player, orthe like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may include, for example,one or more of a processor 191, an input unit 192, an output unit 193, amemory unit 194, and a storage unit 195; and/or device 140 may include,for example, one or more of a processor 181, an input unit 182, anoutput unit 183, a memory unit 184, and a storage unit 185. Devices 102and/or 140 may optionally include other suitable hardware componentsand/or software components. In some demonstrative embodiments, some orall of the components of one or more of devices 102 and/or 140 may beenclosed in a common housing or packaging, and may be interconnected oroperably associated using one or more wired or wireless links. In otherembodiments, components of one or more of devices 102 and/or 140 may bedistributed among multiple or separate devices.

Processor 191 and/or processor 181 includes, for example, a CentralProcessing Unit (CPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), one or moreprocessor cores, a single-core processor, a dual-core processor, amultiple-core processor, a microprocessor, a host processor, acontroller, a plurality of processors or controllers, a chip, amicrochip, one or more circuits, circuitry, a logic unit, an IntegratedCircuit (IC), an Application-Specific IC (ASIC), or any other suitablemulti-purpose or specific processor or controller. Processor 191executes instructions, for example, of an Operating System (OS) ofdevice 102 and/or of one or more suitable applications. Processor 181executes instructions, for example, of an Operating System (OS) ofdevice 140 and/or of one or more suitable applications.

Input unit 192 and/or input unit 182 includes, for example, a keyboard,a keypad, a mouse, a touch-screen, a touch-pad, a track-ball, a stylus,a microphone, or other suitable pointing device or input device. Outputunit 193 and/or output unit 183 includes, for example, a monitor, ascreen, a touch-screen, a flat panel display, a Light Emitting Diode(LED) display unit, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) display unit, aplasma display unit, one or more audio speakers or earphones, or othersuitable output devices.

Memory unit 194 and/or memory unit 184 includes, for example, a RandomAccess Memory (RAM), a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Dynamic RAM (DRAM), aSynchronous DRAM (SD-RAM), a flash memory, a volatile memory, anon-volatile memory, a cache memory, a buffer, a short term memory unit,a long term memory unit, or other suitable memory units. Storage unit195 and/or storage unit 185 includes, for example, a hard disk drive, afloppy disk drive, a Compact Disk (CD) drive, a CD-ROM drive, a DVDdrive, or other suitable removable or non-removable storage units.Memory unit 194 and/or storage unit 195, for example, may store dataprocessed by device 102. Memory unit 184 and/or storage unit 185, forexample, may store data processed by device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and/or 140 may be capable of communicating content, data, informationand/or signals via a wireless medium (WM) 103. In some demonstrativeembodiments, wireless medium 103 may include, for example, a radiochannel, a cellular channel, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)Channel, an RF channel, a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) channel, an IRchannel, a Bluetooth (BT) channel, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication medium 103 mayinclude a wireless communication channel over a 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz)frequency band, or a 5 GHz frequency band, a millimeterWave (mmWave)frequency band, e.g., a 60 GHz frequency band, or any other frequencyband.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and 140 may include oneor more radios to perform wireless communication between devices 102,140 and/or one or more other wireless communication devices. Forexample, device 102 may include a radio 114, and/or device 140 mayinclude a radio 144.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radios 114 and/or 144 may include oneor more wireless receivers (Rx) to receive wireless communicationsignals, RF signals, frames, blocks, transmission streams, packets,messages, data items, and/or data. For example, radio 114 may include areceiver 116, and/or radio 144 may include a receiver 146.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radios 114 and/or 144 may include oneor more wireless transmitters (Tx) to send wireless communicationsignals, RF signals, frames, blocks, transmission streams, packets,messages, data items, and/or data. For example, radio 114 may include atransmitter 118, and/or radio 144 may include a transmitter 148.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radios 114 and/or 144 may includemodulation elements, demodulation elements, amplifiers, analog todigital and digital to analog converters, filters, and/or the like. Forexample, radios 114 and/or 144 may include or may be implemented as partof a wireless Network Interface Card (NIC), and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radios 114 and/or 144 may include, ormay be associated with, one or more antennas 107 and/or 147,respectively.

In one example, device 102 may include a single antenna 107. In otherexample, device 102 may include two or more antennas 107.

In one example, device 140 may include a single antenna 147. In otherexample, device 140 may include two or more antennas 147.

Antennas 107 and/or 147 may include any type of antennas suitable fortransmitting and/or receiving wireless communication signals, blocks,frames, transmission streams, packets, messages and/or data. Forexample, antennas 107 and/or 147 may include any suitable configuration,structure and/or arrangement of one or more antenna elements,components, units, assemblies and/or arrays. Antennas 107 and/or 147 mayinclude, for example, antennas suitable for directional communication,e.g., using beamforming techniques. For example, antennas 107 and/or 147may include a phased array antenna, a multiple element antenna, a set ofswitched beam antennas, and/or the like. In some embodiments, antennas107 and/or 147 may implement transmit and receive functionalities usingseparate transmit and receive antenna elements. In some embodiments,antennas 107 and/or 147 may implement transmit and receivefunctionalities using common and/or integrated transmit/receiveelements.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and/or 140 may form a wireless local area network (WLAN).

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and/or 140 may form a WiFi network.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication medium 103 mayinclude a direct link, e.g., a P2P link, for example, to enable directcommunication between device 102 and device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and/or 140 may perform the functionality of WFA P2P devices. Forexample, device 102 may perform the functionality of a P2P clientdevice, and/or device 140 may perform the functionality of a P2P clientdevice.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and/or 140 may form a WiFi direct services (WFDS) network.

For example, device 102 may perform the functionality of a serviceadvertiser and/or publisher device, and/or device 140 may perform thefunctionality of a service seeker and/or subscriber device.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and/or 140 may form a WiFi Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) network.

In other embodiments, wireless communication devices 102 and/or 140 mayform any other network.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may includeNAN devices, which may share a common set of NAN parameters, e.g.,including a common time period between consecutive discovery windows,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may performthe functionality of a NAN client device capable of discovering otherNAN devices.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may includeone or more applications configured to provide and/or to use one or moreservices and/or applications using the NAN network, e.g., a socialapplication, a file sharing application, a media application and/or thelike.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may include an application125 to be executed by device 102, and/or device 140 may include anapplication 145 to be executed by device 140.

In one example, application 124 and/or 145 may include a socialapplication, which may enable interactions between a user of device 102and a user of device 140 via the NAN network.

In some demonstrative embodiments, application 125 may use rangeinformation between devices 102 and 140, for example, to determine ifthe user of device 140 is in proximity to the user of device 102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may perform aTime of Flight (ToF) measurement procedure to determine the rangeinformation between devices 102 and 140.

The ToF may be defined as the overall time a signal propagates from afirst station, e.g., device 102, to a second station, e.g., device 140,and back to the first station. A distance between the first and secondstations may be determined based on the ToF value, for example, bydividing the ToF value by two and multiplying the result by the speed oflight.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and 140 may not be ableto coordinate the ToF measurement, for example, if both devices 102 and140 include NAN client devices, e.g., if devices 102 and 140 do notinclude an AP and/or a NAN master device.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the NAN client devices may beconfigured to operate at reduced power consumption, and may not be in apower active state for most of the time, e.g., compared to the AP and/orthe NAN master. As a result, a coordination of the ToF measurementprocedure between NAN client devices may not be the same as coordinationbetween the AP and a NAN client device.

In one example, as opposed to the coordination of the ToF measurementprocedure between an AP and one or more devices, in the coordinationbetween NAN client devices, the NAN client devices may not know one ormore details to perform the ToF measurement procedure. For example, theNAN client devices may not know which device of the NAN client deviceswill start the ToF measurement procedure, in which wireless channeland/or band the ToF measurement procedure may be performed, when tostart the ToF measurement procedure, and/or how to complete the ToFmeasurement procedure.

Some demonstrative embodiments may enable devices 102 and 140 tocoordinate the ToF measurement procedure, for example, even if devices102 and 140 includes NAN client devices, e.g., even if devices 102 and140 do not include an AP and/or a NAN master device.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ToF measurement procedure mayinclude a Fine Timing Measurement (FTM) procedure.

Reference is made to FIG. 2, which schematically illustrates a sequencediagram, which demonstrates operations and interactions between a firstwireless communication device 202 (Initiating STA) and a second wirelesscommunication device 240 (Responding STA), for performing an FTMprocedure 200, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. Forexample, device 202 may perform the functionality of device 102 (FIG. 1)and/or device 240 may perform the functionality of device 140 (FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 2, device 202 may transmit to device 240 an FTM requestmessage 231 to request to perform the FTM procedure 200 with device 240.

As shown in FIG. 2, device 240 may transmit an FTM requestacknowledgement (ACK) 232 to device 202, to acknowledge receipt of theFTM request message 231, and to confirm the request to perform the FTMprocedure.

As shown in FIG. 2, device 240 may transmit a message 234 to device 202,at a time, denoted t1. The time t1 may be a Time of Departure (ToD),denoted ToD(M), of message 234.

As shown in FIG. 2, device 202 may receive message 234 and may determinea time, denoted t2, e.g., by determining a Time of Arrival (ToA),denoted ToA(M), of message 234.

As shown in FIG. 2, device 202 may transmit a message 236 to device 240,at a time, denoted t3. Message 236 may include, for example, anacknowledgement message transmitted in response to message 234. The timet3 may be a ToD, denoted ToD(ACK), of the message 236.

As shown in FIG. 2, device 240 may receive message 236 and may determinea time, denoted t4, e.g., by determining a ToA, denoted ToA(ACK), ofmessage 236.

As shown in FIG. 2, device 240 may transmit a message 238 to device 202.Message 238 may include, for example, information corresponding to thetime t1 and/or the time t4. For example, message 238 may include atimestamp, e.g., a ToD timestamp, including the time t1, and atimestamp, e.g., a ToA timestamp, including the time t4.

As shown in FIG. 2, device 202 may receive message 238. Device 202 maydetermine a ToF between device 202 and device 240, for example, based onmessage 238.

For example, device 202 may determine the ToF based on an average, orany other function, applied to the time values t1, t2, t3 and t4. Forexample, device 202 may determine the ToF, e.g., as follows:ToF=[(t4−t1)−(t3−t2)]/2  (1)

As shown in FIG. 2, device 202 may transmit a message 239 to device 240.Message 239 may include, for example, an acknowledgement messagetransmitted in response to message M(t1,t4).

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 202 may determine the distancebetween devices 202 and 240 based on the calculated ToF.

For example, device 202 may determine the distance, denoted r_(k), e.g.,as follows:r _(k)=ToF*C  (2)wherein C denotes the radio wave propagation speed.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102and/or 140 may include a controller configured to perform and/or tocoordinate the ToF measurement procedure between devices 102 and 140.For example, device 102 may include a controller 124, and/or device 140may include a controller 154.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controllers 124 and/or 154 mayinclude circuitry, e.g., processor circuitry, memory circuitry,Media-Access Control (MAC) circuitry, Physical Layer (PHY) circuitry,and/or any other circuitry, configured to perform the functionality ofcontrollers 124 and/or 154. Additionally or alternatively, one or morefunctionalities of the controllers 124 and/or 154 may be implemented bylogic, which may be executed by a machine and/or one or more processors,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, transmitter 118 may transmit over WM103 a discovery frame 139 to device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, discovery frame 139 may include a NANservice discovery frame, e.g., a NAN service discovery publish frame.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may be able to perform thefunctionality of device 140 and vice versa. According to theseembodiments, transmitter 148 may transmit discovery frame 139 to device102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, discovery frame 139 may include aninitiator indication to indicate whether device 102 is to be aninitiator, e.g., device 202 (FIG. 2), or a responder, e.g., device 240(FIG. 2), of the ToF measurement procedure, e.g., FTM procedure 200(FIG. 2).

In some demonstrative embodiments, discovery frame 139 may includeavailability information of device 102 to indicate a wireless channeland one or more time intervals for performing the ToF measurementprocedure.

In some demonstrative embodiments, discovery frame 139 may includecapability information of device 102 to indicate whether or not device102 has at least one capability of an initiator capability, and aresponder capability.

In some demonstrative embodiments, discovery frame 139 may include areport indication to indicate whether or not the initiator of the ToFmeasurement procedure is to send to the responder of the ToF measurementprocedure a report of the ToF measurement procedure.

In some demonstrative embodiments, discovery frame 139 may include a ToFmeasurement information field.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ToF measurement information fieldmay include a first bit to indicate whether or not device 102 is capableof being the initiator of the ToF measurement procedure. For example,the first bit may be set to “1” to indicate that device 102 is capableof being the initiator of the ToF measurement, or to “0” to indicatethat device 102 is not capable of being the initiator of the ToFmeasurement.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ToF measurement information fieldmay include a second bit to indicate whether or not device 102 iscapable of being the responder of the ToF measurement procedure. Forexample, the second bit may be set to “1” to indicate that device 102 iscapable of being the responder of the ToF measurement, or to “0” toindicate that device 102 is not capable of being the responder of theToF measurement.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ToF measurement information fieldmay include a third bit to include the initiator indication. Forexample, the third bit may be set to “1” to indicate that device 102 isto be the initiator of the ToF measurement, or to “0” to indicate thatdevice 102 is to be the responder of the ToF measurement.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ToF measurement information fieldmay include a fourth bit to indicate whether or not the initiator of theToF measurement procedure is to send to the responder of the ToFmeasurement procedure a report of the ToF measurement procedure. Forexample, the fourth bit may be set to “1” to indicate that the initiatoris to send to the responder the report of the ToF measurement procedure,or to “0” to indicate that the report will not be sent to the responder.

In one example, a BSSID field of the report of the ToF measurementprocedure may include a MAC address of the responder, for example, ifthe fourth bit of the ToF measurement information field is set to “1”.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ToF measurement information fieldmay be included as part of an FTM information attribute, e.g., asfollows:

TABLE 1 Size Field (octets) Value Description Attri- 1 TBD Identifiesthe type of NAN attribute. bute ID Length 2 Vari- Length of thefollowing fields in the able attribute. Fine 1 Vari- Bit 0: (Initiatorcapability): Set to 1 indicates Timing able that device is capable to bean Initiator. Measure- Otherwise, set to 0. ment Bit 1: (Respondercapability): Set to 1 indicates that device is capable to be aResponder. Otherwise, set to 0. Bit 2 (Initiator preference): Set to 1indicates that the Device is an Initiator. Otherwise, the Device is aResponder. Bit 3 (Ranging data): Set to 1 indicates that the Initiatorwill transmit FTM Ranging report to the Responder. Otherwise, no Rangingdata report is transmitted afterward. Bit 4-7: Reserved.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the FTM information attribute may betransmitted in discovery frame 139, for example, based on an indicationto perform the ToF measurement procedure.

In one example, the indication to perform the ToF measurement proceduremay be communicated as part of a NAN ranging attribute.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the indication to perform the ToFmeasurement procedure may be included in a field of the rangingattribute, for example, in a ranging protocol field of the rangingattribute.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ranging protocol field may be setto an FTM value, e.g., a value of “0”, for example, to indicate that theToF measurement procedure is to be performed.

In other embodiments, the ToF measurement information field may becommunicated as part of any other frame and/or message, e.g., as part ofa dedicated frame or message, or as a field in another frame or message.

In some demonstrative embodiments, discovery frame 139 may include anunsolicited publish frame.

In some demonstrative embodiments, receiver 146 may receive discoveryframe 139.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controllers 124 and/or 154 maycoordinate the ToF measurement procedure, for example, based ondiscovery frame 139.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controllers 124 and/or 154 mayperform the ToF measurement procedure between devices 102 and/140 overthe wireless channel and during the one or more time intervals, whichare specified in the availability information of device 102, asindicated by the ToF measurement information field of discovery frame139.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be either theinitiator or responder of the ToF measurement, e.g., according to theinitiator indication in discovery frame 139. For example, controller 124may be the initiator, for example, if the third bit of the ToFmeasurement information field is set to “1”.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be either theinitiator or responder of the ToF measurement, e.g., according to theinitiator indication in discovery frame 139. For example, controller 154may be the responder, for example, if the third bit of the ToFmeasurement information field is set to “1”, e.g., controller 154 mayperform a role opposite to the role of controller 124.

In some demonstrative embodiments, discovery frame 139 may be asolicited publish frame, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, transmitter 148 may transmit todevice 102 a subscribe frame 149.

In some demonstrative embodiments, subscribe frame 149 may include adiscovery frame, e.g., a NAN service discovery subscribe frame.

In some demonstrative embodiments, transmitter 118 may transmitdiscovery frame 139 in the form of the solicited publish frame, e.g., inresponse to subscribe frame 149.

In some demonstrative embodiments, subscribe frame 149 may includepreference information to indicate a preference of device 140 to be aninitiator, e.g., device 202 (FIG. 2), or a responder, e.g., device 240(FIG. 2), of the ToF measurement procedure, e.g., FTM procedure 200(FIG. 2).

In some demonstrative embodiments, subscribe frame 149 may includeavailability information of device 140 to indicate a wireless channeland one or more time intervals for performing the ToF measurementprocedure.

In some demonstrative embodiments, subscribe frame 149 may includecapability information of device 140 to indicate whether or not device140 has at least one capability of an initiator capability, and aresponder capability.

In some demonstrative embodiments, subscribe frame 149 may include areport indication to indicate whether or not the initiator of the ToFmeasurement procedure is to send to the responder of the ToF measurementprocedure a report of the ToF measurement procedure.

In some demonstrative embodiments, subscribe frame 149 may include a ToFmeasurement information field.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ToF measurement information fieldof subscribe frame 149 may include a first bit to indicate whether ornot device 140 is capable of being the initiator of the ToF measurementprocedure. For example, the first bit may be set to “1” to indicate thatdevice 140 is capable of being the initiator of the ToF measurement, orto “0” to indicate that device 140 is not capable of being the initiatorof the ToF measurement.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ToF measurement information fieldof subscribe frame 149 may include a second bit to indicate whether ornot device 140 is capable of being the responder of the ToF measurementprocedure. For example, the second bit may be set to “1” to indicatethat device 140 is capable of being the responder of the ToFmeasurement, or to “0” to indicate that device 140 is not capable ofbeing the responder of the ToF measurement.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ToF measurement information fieldof subscribe frame 149 may include a third bit to indicate thepreference information. For example, the third bit may be set to “1” toindicate that device 140 prefers to be the initiator of the ToFmeasurement, or to “0” to indicate that device 140 prefers to be theresponder of the ToF measurement.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ToF measurement information fieldof subscribe frame 149 may include a fourth bit to indicate whether ornot the initiator of the ToF measurement procedure is to send to theresponder of the ToF measurement procedure a report of the ToFmeasurement procedure. For example, the fourth bit may be set to “1” toindicate that the initiator is to send to the responder the report ofthe ToF measurement procedure, or to “0” to indicate that no report willbe sent to the responder.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ToF measurement information fieldof subscribe frame 149 may be included as part of an FTM informationattribute, e.g., as describe above with reference to Table 1.

In some demonstrative embodiments, receiver 116 may receive subscribeframe 149 from device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may determine one ormore parameters of discovery frame 139 based on subscribe frame 149.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may determine thewireless channel and the time intervals of the availability informationin discovery frame 139, for example, based on the availabilityinformation of device 140 in subscribe frame 149.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may determine theinitiator indication in discovery frame 139, for example, based on thecapability information of device 140 in subscribe frame 149 and/or thecapability information of device 102.

In one example, controller 124 may determine device 102 to be theinitiator, for example, if device 140 does not have the initiatorcapability, and device 102 has the initiator capability.

In another example, controller 124 may determine device 102 to be theinitiator, for example, if both devices 102 and/or 140 have theinitiator capability.

In another example, controller 124 may determine device 140 to be theinitiator, for example, if device 102 does not have the initiatorcapability, and device 140 has the initiator capability.

In some demonstrative embodiments, receiver 146 may receive discoveryframe 139 in the form of the solicited publish frame, e.g., in responseto subscribe frame 149.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controllers 124 and/or 154 mayperform the ToF measurement procedure between devices 102 and/140 overthe wireless channel based on discovery frame 139.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 140 may transmit subscribeframe 149 in response to discovery frame 139, for example, if discoveryframe 139 includes the unsolicited publish frame.

In some demonstrative embodiments, subscribe frame 149 may be inresponse to discovery frame 139, for example, if device 140 is notcapable to comply with one or more requirements specified in discoveryframe 139.

In one example, device 140 may transmit subscribe frame 149, forexample, if device 140 cannot comply with the availability informationof device 102, e.g., the wireless channel and/or the one or more timeintervals indicated in discovery frame 139.

In another example, device 140 may transmit subscribe frame 149, forexample, if device 140 cannot comply with the initiator indication ofdiscovery frame 139, e.g., if the initiator indication indicates device140 to be the responder, and device 140 does not have the respondercapability.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 140 may not perform the ToFmeasurement procedure, for example, if device 140 is not capable ofcomplying with the one or more requirements specified in discovery frame139.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the coordination of the ToFmeasurement procedure, e.g., using discovery frame 139 and/or subscribeframe 149, may enable performing an FTM measurement between two NANclient devices, e.g., as describe above.

Reference is made to FIG. 3, which schematically illustrates a sequence300 of operations between a first wireless communication device 302 anda second wireless communication device 340, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments. For example, device 302 may perform thefunctionality of device 102 (FIG. 1) and/or device 340 may perform thefunctionality of device 140 (FIG. 1).

In some demonstrative embodiments, sequence 300 may includecommunication of an unsolicited publish frame, e.g., as described below.

As shown in FIG. 3, device 302 may include an application 325, and/ordevice 340 may include an application 345. For example, application 325may perform the functionality of application 125 (FIG. 1), and/orapplication 345 may perform the functionality of application 145 (FIG.1).

As shown in FIG. 3, application 325 may advertise and/or publish (304) aservice, which requires performing the FTM procedure. For example,application 325 may interact with a user of application 345, e.g., ifthe user is in proximity to device 302.

As shown in FIG. 3, device 302 may transmit a NAN service discoveryframe 339. For example, NAN service discovery frame 339 may perform thefunctionality of discovery frame 139 (FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 3, NAN service discovery frame 339 may include anunsolicited publish frame.

As shown in FIG. 3, NAN service discovery frame 339 may include aservice ID of the service, the ToF measurement information field, theavailability information of device 302, and/or any other informationrelating to the service and/or to the FTM measurement.

As shown in FIG. 3, device 340 may receive NAN service discovery frame339, and may notify (344) application 345.

As shown in FIG. 3, after NAN service discovery frame 339 is received bydevice 340, devices 302 and/or 340 may perform an FTM procedure 330. Forexample, FTM procedure 330 may perform the functionality of FTMprocedure 200 (FIG. 2).

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 302 and/or 340 may performFTM procedure 330, for example, according to the information in NANservice discovery frame 339, e.g., using available channel 11, the timeintervals in the availability information and/or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, once FTM procedure 330 is complete, the initiator ofFTM procedure 330, e.g., as determined in the initiator indication ofNAN service discovery frame 339, may communicate an FTM ragingmeasurement report 335 with the responder, for example, if the reportindication indicates the initiator is to send the FTM raging measurementreport 335.

Reference is made to FIG. 4, which schematically illustrates a sequence400 of operations between a first wireless communication device 402 anda second wireless communication device 440, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments. For example, device 402 may perform thefunctionality of device 102 (FIG. 1) and/or device 440 may perform thefunctionality of device 140 (FIG. 1).

In some demonstrative embodiments, sequence 400 may includecommunication of a solicited publish frame, in response to a subscribeframe, e.g., as described below.

As shown in FIG. 4, device 402 may include an application 425, and/ordevice 440 may include an application 445. For example, application 425may perform the functionality of application 125 (FIG. 1), and/orapplication 445 may perform the functionality of application 145 (FIG.1).

As shown in FIG. 4, application 425 may advertise and/or publish (404) aservice, which requires performing the FTM procedure. For example,application 425 may interact with a user of application 445, e.g., ifthe user is in proximity to device 402.

As shown in FIG. 4, application 445 may seek (406) the service, whichrequires performing the FTM procedure. For example, application 445 mayinteract with a user of application 425, e.g., if the user is inproximity to device 440.

As shown in FIG. 4, device 440 may transmit a NAN service discoverysubscribe frame 449. For example NAN service discovery subscribe frame449 may perform the functionality of subscribe frame 149 (FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 4, NAN service discovery subscribe frame 449 mayinclude a service ID of the service, the ToF measurement informationfield, the availability information of device 440, and/or any otherinformation relating to the service and/or the FTM measurement.

As shown in FIG. 4, device 402 may receive NAN service discoverysubscribe frame 449.

As shown in FIG. 4, controller 124 (FIG. 1) may determine (412) one ormore parameters of the FTM measurement, e.g., the initiator of the FTMmeasurement, the wireless channel, the time slot and/or any otherparameters of the FTM measurement, while taking into account NAN servicediscovery subscribe frame 449.

As shown in FIG. 4, device 402 may transmit a NAN service discoveryframe 439, e.g., in response to NAN service discovery subscribe frame449. For example, NAN service discovery frame 439 may perform thefunctionality of discovery frame 139 (FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 4, NAN service discovery frame 439 may include asolicited publish frame, e.g., in response to NAN service discoverysubscribe frame 449.

As shown in FIG. 4, NAN service discovery frame 439 may include aservice ID of the service, the ToF measurement information field, theavailability information of device 402, and/or any other information tothe service and/or to the FTM measurement.

As shown in FIG. 4, device 440 may receive NAN service discovery frame439, and may notify (444) application 445.

As shown in FIG. 4, after NAN service discovery frame 439 is received bydevice 440, devices 402 and/or 440 may perform an FTM procedure 430. Forexample, FTM procedure 430 may perform the functionality of FTMprocedure 200 (FIG. 2).

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 402 and/or 440 may performFTM procedure 430, for example, according to the information in NANservice discovery frame 439, e.g., using available channel 11, the timeintervals in the availability information and/or the like.

As shown in FIG. 4, once FTM procedure 430 is complete, the initiator ofFTM procedure 430, e.g., as determined in the initiator indication ofNAN service discovery frame 439, may communicate an FTM ragingmeasurement report 435 with the responder, for example, if the reportindication indicates the initiator is to send the FTM raging measurementreport 435.

Reference is made to FIG. 5, which schematically illustrates a method ofperforming a ToF measurement, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments. For example, one or more of the operations of the method ofFIG. 5 may be performed by a wireless communication system, e.g., system100 (FIG. 1); a wireless communication device, e.g., devices 102 and/or140 (FIG. 1); a controller, e.g., controllers 124 and/or 154 (FIG. 1); aradio, e.g., radios 114 and/or 144 (FIG. 1); a transmitter, e.g.,transmitters 118 and/or 148 (FIG. 1); and/or a receiver, e.g., receivers116 and/or 146 (FIG. 1).

In some demonstrative embodiments, the method of FIG. 5 may be performedat a first wireless communication device, e.g., device 102 (FIG. 1), forexample, to coordinate the ToF measurement with a second wirelesscommunication device, e.g. device 140 (FIG. 1).

As indicated at block 502, the method may include communicating adiscovery frame including an initiator indication to indicate whether asender of the discovery frame is to be an initiator or a responder of aTime of Flight (ToF) measurement procedure, and availability informationto indicate a wireless channel and one or more time intervals. Forexample, devices 102 and/or 140 (FIG. 1) may communicate discovery frame139 (FIG. 1) including the initiator indication and the availabilityinformation of device 102 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 504, in some demonstrative embodiments,communicating the discovery frame may include communicating anunsolicited publish frame. For example, devices 102 and/or 140 (FIG. 1)may communicate discovery frame 139 (FIG. 1) as an unsolicited publishframe, e.g., as described above.

In other embodiments, communicating the discovery frame may includecommunicating a solicited publish frame, in response to a subscribeframe, e.g., as described below with reference to blocks 506 and 508.

As indicated at block 506, the method may include communicating asubscribe frame. For example, devices 102 and/or 140 (FIG. 1) maycommunicate subscribe frame 149 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 508, communicating the discovery frame may includecommunicating a solicited publish frame in response to the subscribeframe. For example, devices 102 and/or 140 (FIG. 1) may communicatediscovery frame 139 (FIG. 1) as a solicited publish frame in response tosubscribe frame 149 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

As indicated in block 510, the method may include performing the ToFmeasurement procedure over the wireless channel during the one or moretime intervals. For example, devices 102 and/or 140 (FIG. 1) may performthe FTM procedure 200 (FIG. 2) over the wireless channel during the oneor more time intervals, e.g., as described above.

As indicated in block 512, performing the ToF measurement procedure mayinclude, during the ToF measurement procedure, being either theinitiator or responder of the ToF measurement according to the initiatorindication. For example, device 102 (FIG. 1) may be either the initiatoror responder of the ToF measurement according to the initiatorindication in discovery frame 139 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

Reference is made to FIG. 6, which schematically illustrates a productof manufacture 600, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.Product 600 may include a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium602 to store logic 604, which may be used, for example, to perform atleast part of the functionality of devices 102 and/or 140 (FIG. 1),radios 114 and/or 144 (FIG. 1), transmitters 118 and/or 148 (FIG. 1),receivers 116 and/or 146 (FIG. 1), controllers 124 and/or 154 (FIG. 1),and/or to perform one or more operations of the method of FIG. 5. Thephrase “non-transitory machine-readable medium” is directed to includeall computer-readable media, with the sole exception being a transitorypropagating signal.

In some demonstrative embodiments, product 600 and/or machine-readablestorage medium 602 may include one or more types of computer-readablestorage media capable of storing data, including volatile memory,non-volatile memory, removable or non-removable memory, erasable ornon-erasable memory, writeable or re-writeable memory, and the like. Forexample, machine-readable storage medium 602 may include, RAM, DRAM,Double-Data-Rate DRAM (DDR-DRAM), SDRAM, static RAM (SRAM), ROM,programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electricallyerasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), Compact Disk ROM (CD-ROM), CompactDisk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), flash memory(e.g., NOR or NAND flash memory), content addressable memory (CAM),polymer memory, phase-change memory, ferroelectric memory,silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memory, a disk, a floppydisk, a hard drive, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a card, a magneticcard, an optical card, a tape, a cassette, and the like. Thecomputer-readable storage media may include any suitable media involvedwith downloading or transferring a computer program from a remotecomputer to a requesting computer carried by data signals embodied in acarrier wave or other propagation medium through a communication link,e.g., a modem, radio or network connection.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 604 may include instructions,data, and/or code, which, if executed by a machine, may cause themachine to perform a method, process and/or operations as describedherein. The machine may include, for example, any suitable processingplatform, computing platform, computing device, processing device,computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like,and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware,software, firmware, and the like.

EXAMPLES

The following examples pertain to further embodiments.

Example 1 includes a first wireless device comprising a radio tocommunicate a discovery frame with a second wireless device, thediscovery frame including an initiator indication to indicate whether asender of the discovery frame is to be an initiator or a responder of aTime of Flight (ToF) measurement procedure, and availability informationto indicate a wireless channel and one or more time intervals; and acontroller to perform the ToF measurement procedure with the secondwireless device over the wireless channel during the one or more timeintervals, the controller to be either the initiator or responder of theToF measurement according to the initiator indication.

Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and optionally,wherein the discovery frame includes capability information to indicatewhether or not the sender of the discovery frame has at least onecapability selected from the group consisting of an initiatorcapability, and a responder capability.

Example 3 includes the subject matter of Example 1 or 2, and optionally,wherein the discovery frame includes a report indication to indicatewhether or not the initiator of the ToF measurement procedure is to sendto the responder of the ToF measurement procedure a report of the ToFmeasurement procedure.

Example 4 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-3, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame includes a ToF measurementinformation field including a first bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the discovery frame is capable of being the initiator of theToF measurement procedure, a second bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the discovery frame is capable of being the responder of theToF measurement procedure, a third bit including the initiatorindication, and a fourth bit to indicate whether or not the initiator ofthe ToF measurement procedure is to send to the responder of the ToFmeasurement procedure a report of the ToF measurement procedure.

Example 5 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-4, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame is an unsolicited publish frame.

Example 6 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-5, andoptionally, wherein the radio is to communicate a subscribe frame withthe second wireless device, the discovery frame being a solicitedpublish frame in response to the subscribe frame.

Example 7 includes the subject matter of Example 6, and optionally,wherein the subscribe frame includes capability information to indicatewhether or not a sender of the subscribe frame has at least onecapability selected from the group consisting of an initiatorcapability, and a responder capability.

Example 8 includes the subject matter of Example 6 or 7, and optionally,wherein the subscribe frame includes preference information to indicatea preference of the sender of the subscribe frame to be the initiator ofthe ToF measurement procedure.

Example 9 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 6-8, andoptionally, wherein the subscribe frame includes a report indication toindicate whether or not the initiator of the ToF measurement procedureis to send to the responder of the ToF measurement procedure a report ofthe ToF measurement procedure.

Example 10 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 6-9, andoptionally, wherein the subscribe frame includes a ToF measurementinformation field including a first bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the subscribe frame is capable of being the initiator of theToF measurement procedure, a second bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the subscribe frame is capable of being the responder of theToF measurement procedure, a third bit to indicate a preference of thesender of the subscribe frame to be the initiator of the ToF measurementprocedure, and a fourth bit to indicate whether or not the initiator ofthe ToF measurement procedure is to send to the responder of the ToFmeasurement procedure a report of the ToF measurement procedure.

Example 11 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-10, andoptionally, wherein the radio is to transmit the discovery frame to thesecond wireless device.

Example 12 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-10, andoptionally, wherein the radio is to receive the discovery frame from thesecond wireless device.

Example 13 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-12, andoptionally, wherein the ToF measurement procedure comprises a FineTiming Measurement (FTM) procedure.

Example 14 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-13, andoptionally, wherein the radio is to communicate the discovery frame overa wireless communication channel over a 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz) frequencyband or a 5 GHz frequency band.

Example 15 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-14, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame is a Neighbor AwarenessNetworking (NAN) service discovery frame.

Example 16 includes a wireless communication system including a firstwireless device, the first wireless device comprising one or moreantennas; a memory; a processor; a radio to communicate a discoveryframe with a second wireless device, the discovery frame including aninitiator indication to indicate whether a sender of the discovery frameis to be an initiator or a responder of a Time of Flight (ToF)measurement procedure, and availability information to indicate awireless channel and one or more time intervals; and a controller toperform the ToF measurement procedure with the second wireless deviceover the wireless channel during the one or more time intervals, thecontroller to be either the initiator or responder of the ToFmeasurement according to the initiator indication.

Example 17 includes the subject matter of Example 16, and optionally,wherein the discovery frame includes capability information to indicatewhether or not the sender of the discovery frame has at least onecapability selected from the group consisting of an initiatorcapability, and a responder capability.

Example 18 includes the subject matter of Example 16 or 17, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame includes a report indication toindicate whether or not the initiator of the ToF measurement procedureis to send to the responder of the ToF measurement procedure a report ofthe ToF measurement procedure.

Example 19 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 16-18, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame includes a ToF measurementinformation field including a first bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the discovery frame is capable of being the initiator of theToF measurement procedure, a second bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the discovery frame is capable of being the responder of theToF measurement procedure, a third bit including the initiatorindication, and a fourth bit to indicate whether or not the initiator ofthe ToF measurement procedure is to send to the responder of the ToFmeasurement procedure a report of the ToF measurement procedure.

Example 20 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 16-19, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame is an unsolicited publish frame.

Example 21 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 16-20, andoptionally, wherein the radio is to communicate a subscribe frame withthe second wireless device, the discovery frame being a solicitedpublish frame in response to the subscribe frame.

Example 22 includes the subject matter of Example 21, and optionally,wherein the subscribe frame includes capability information to indicatewhether or not a sender of the subscribe frame has at least onecapability selected from the group consisting of an initiatorcapability, and a responder capability.

Example 23 includes the subject matter of Example 21 or 22, andoptionally, wherein the subscribe frame includes preference informationto indicate a preference of the sender of the subscribe frame to be theinitiator of the ToF measurement procedure.

Example 24 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 21-23, andoptionally, wherein the subscribe frame includes a report indication toindicate whether or not the initiator of the ToF measurement procedureis to send to the responder of the ToF measurement procedure a report ofthe ToF measurement procedure.

Example 25 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 21-24, andoptionally, wherein the subscribe frame includes a ToF measurementinformation field including a first bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the subscribe frame is capable of being the initiator of theToF measurement procedure, a second bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the subscribe frame is capable of being the responder of theToF measurement procedure, a third bit to indicate a preference of thesender of the subscribe frame to be the initiator of the ToF measurementprocedure, and a fourth bit to indicate whether or not the initiator ofthe ToF measurement procedure is to send to the responder of the ToFmeasurement procedure a report of the ToF measurement procedure.

Example 26 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 16-25, andoptionally, wherein the radio is to transmit the discovery frame to thesecond wireless device.

Example 27 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 16-25, andoptionally, wherein the radio is to receive the discovery frame from thesecond wireless device.

Example 28 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 16-27, andoptionally, wherein the ToF measurement procedure comprises a FineTiming Measurement (FTM) procedure.

Example 29 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 16-28, andoptionally, wherein the radio is to communicate the discovery frame overa wireless communication channel over a 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz) frequencyband or a 5 GHz frequency band.

Example 30 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 16-29, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame is a Neighbor AwarenessNetworking (NAN) service discovery frame.

Example 31 includes a method performed by a first wireless device, themethod comprising communicating a discovery frame with a second wirelessdevice, the discovery frame including an initiator indication toindicate whether a sender of the discovery frame is to be an initiatoror a responder of a Time of Flight (ToF) measurement procedure, andavailability information to indicate a wireless channel and one or moretime intervals; and performing the ToF measurement procedure with thesecond wireless device over the wireless channel during the one or moretime intervals, during the ToF measurement procedure being either theinitiator or responder of the ToF measurement according to the initiatorindication.

Example 32 includes the subject matter of Example 31, and optionally,wherein the discovery frame includes capability information to indicatewhether or not the sender of the discovery frame has at least onecapability selected from the group consisting of an initiatorcapability, and a responder capability.

Example 33 includes the subject matter of Example 31 or 32, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame includes a report indication toindicate whether or not the initiator of the ToF measurement procedureis to send to the responder of the ToF measurement procedure a report ofthe ToF measurement procedure.

Example 34 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 31-33, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame includes a ToF measurementinformation field including a first bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the discovery frame is capable of being the initiator of theToF measurement procedure, a second bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the discovery frame is capable of being the responder of theToF measurement procedure, a third bit including the initiatorindication, and a fourth bit to indicate whether or not the initiator ofthe ToF measurement procedure is to send to the responder of the ToFmeasurement procedure a report of the ToF measurement procedure.

Example 35 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 31-34, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame is an unsolicited publish frame.

Example 36 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 31-35, andoptionally, comprising communicating a subscribe frame with the secondwireless device, the discovery frame being a solicited publish frame inresponse to the subscribe frame.

Example 37 includes the subject matter of Example 36, and optionally,wherein the subscribe frame includes capability information to indicatewhether or not a sender of the subscribe frame has at least onecapability selected from the group consisting of an initiatorcapability, and a responder capability.

Example 38 includes the subject matter of Example 36 or 37, andoptionally, wherein the subscribe frame includes preference informationto indicate a preference of the sender of the subscribe frame to be theinitiator of the ToF measurement procedure.

Example 39 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 36-38, andoptionally, wherein the subscribe frame includes a report indication toindicate whether or not the initiator of the ToF measurement procedureis to send to the responder of the ToF measurement procedure a report ofthe ToF measurement procedure.

Example 40 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 36-39, andoptionally, wherein the subscribe frame includes a ToF measurementinformation field including a first bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the subscribe frame is capable of being the initiator of theToF measurement procedure, a second bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the subscribe frame is capable of being the responder of theToF measurement procedure, a third bit to indicate a preference of thesender of the subscribe frame to be the initiator of the ToF measurementprocedure, and a fourth bit to indicate whether or not the initiator ofthe ToF measurement procedure is to send to the responder of the ToFmeasurement procedure a report of the ToF measurement procedure.

Example 41 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 31-40, andoptionally, comprising transmitting the discovery frame to the secondwireless device.

Example 42 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 31-40, andoptionally, comprising receiving the discovery frame from the secondwireless device.

Example 43 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 31-42, andoptionally, wherein the ToF measurement procedure comprises a FineTiming Measurement (FTM) procedure.

Example 44 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 31-43, andoptionally, comprising communicating the discovery frame over a wirelesscommunication channel over a 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz) frequency band or a 5GHz frequency band.

Example 45 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 31-44, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame is a Neighbor AwarenessNetworking (NAN) service discovery frame.

Example 46 includes a product including one or more tangiblecomputer-readable non-transitory storage media comprisingcomputer-executable instructions operable to, when executed by at leastone computer processor, enable the at least one computer processor toimplement a method at a first wireless device, the method comprisingcommunicating a discovery frame with a second wireless device, thediscovery frame including an initiator indication to indicate whether asender of the discovery frame is to be an initiator or a responder of aTime of Flight (ToF) measurement procedure, and availability informationto indicate a wireless channel and one or more time intervals; andperforming the ToF measurement procedure with the second wireless deviceover the wireless channel during the one or more time intervals, duringthe ToF measurement procedure being either the initiator or responder ofthe ToF measurement according to the initiator indication.

Example 47 includes the subject matter of Example 46, and optionally,wherein the discovery frame includes capability information to indicatewhether or not the sender of the discovery frame has at least onecapability selected from the group consisting of an initiatorcapability, and a responder capability.

Example 48 includes the subject matter of Example 46 or 47, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame includes a report indication toindicate whether or not the initiator of the ToF measurement procedureis to send to the responder of the ToF measurement procedure a report ofthe ToF measurement procedure.

Example 49 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 46-48, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame includes a ToF measurementinformation field including a first bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the discovery frame is capable of being the initiator of theToF measurement procedure, a second bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the discovery frame is capable of being the responder of theToF measurement procedure, a third bit including the initiatorindication, and a fourth bit to indicate whether or not the initiator ofthe ToF measurement procedure is to send to the responder of the ToFmeasurement procedure a report of the ToF measurement procedure.

Example 50 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 46-49, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame is an unsolicited publish frame.

Example 51 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 46-50, andoptionally, wherein the method comprises communicating a subscribe framewith the second wireless device, the discovery frame being a solicitedpublish frame in response to the subscribe frame.

Example 52 includes the subject matter of Example 51, and optionally,wherein the subscribe frame includes capability information to indicatewhether or not a sender of the subscribe frame has at least onecapability selected from the group consisting of an initiatorcapability, and a responder capability.

Example 53 includes the subject matter of Example 51 or 52, andoptionally, wherein the subscribe frame includes preference informationto indicate a preference of the sender of the subscribe frame to be theinitiator of the ToF measurement procedure.

Example 54 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 51-53, andoptionally, wherein the subscribe frame includes a report indication toindicate whether or not the initiator of the ToF measurement procedureis to send to the responder of the ToF measurement procedure a report ofthe ToF measurement procedure.

Example 55 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 51-54, andoptionally, wherein the subscribe frame includes a ToF measurementinformation field including a first bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the subscribe frame is capable of being the initiator of theToF measurement procedure, a second bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the subscribe frame is capable of being the responder of theToF measurement procedure, a third bit to indicate a preference of thesender of the subscribe frame to be the initiator of the ToF measurementprocedure, and a fourth bit to indicate whether or not the initiator ofthe ToF measurement procedure is to send to the responder of the ToFmeasurement procedure a report of the ToF measurement procedure.

Example 56 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 46-55, andoptionally, wherein the method comprises transmitting the discoveryframe to the second wireless device.

Example 57 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 46-55, andoptionally, wherein the method comprises receiving the discovery framefrom the second wireless device.

Example 58 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 46-57, andoptionally, wherein the ToF measurement procedure comprises a FineTiming Measurement (FTM) procedure.

Example 59 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 46-58, andoptionally, wherein the method comprises communicating the discoveryframe over a wireless communication channel over a 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz)frequency band or a 5 GHz frequency band.

Example 60 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 46-59, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame is a Neighbor AwarenessNetworking (NAN) service discovery frame.

Example 61 includes an apparatus comprising means for communicating at afirst wireless device a discovery frame with a second wireless device,the discovery frame including an initiator indication to indicatewhether a sender of the discovery frame is to be an initiator or aresponder of a Time of Flight (ToF) measurement procedure, andavailability information to indicate a wireless channel and one or moretime intervals; and means for performing the ToF measurement procedurewith the second wireless device over the wireless channel during the oneor more time intervals, during the ToF measurement procedure beingeither the initiator or responder of the ToF measurement according tothe initiator indication.

Example 62 includes the subject matter of Example 61, and optionally,wherein the discovery frame includes capability information to indicatewhether or not the sender of the discovery frame has at least onecapability selected from the group consisting of an initiatorcapability, and a responder capability.

Example 63 includes the subject matter of Example 61 or 62, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame includes a report indication toindicate whether or not the initiator of the ToF measurement procedureis to send to the responder of the ToF measurement procedure a report ofthe ToF measurement procedure.

Example 64 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 61-63, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame includes a ToF measurementinformation field including a first bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the discovery frame is capable of being the initiator of theToF measurement procedure, a second bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the discovery frame is capable of being the responder of theToF measurement procedure, a third bit including the initiatorindication, and a fourth bit to indicate whether or not the initiator ofthe ToF measurement procedure is to send to the responder of the ToFmeasurement procedure a report of the ToF measurement procedure.

Example 65 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 61-64, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame is an unsolicited publish frame.

Example 66 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 61-65, andoptionally, comprising means for communicating a subscribe frame withthe second wireless device, the discovery frame being a solicitedpublish frame in response to the subscribe frame.

Example 67 includes the subject matter of Example 66, and optionally,wherein the subscribe frame includes capability information to indicatewhether or not a sender of the subscribe frame has at least onecapability selected from the group consisting of an initiatorcapability, and a responder capability.

Example 68 includes the subject matter of Example 66 or 67, andoptionally, wherein the subscribe frame includes preference informationto indicate a preference of the sender of the subscribe frame to be theinitiator of the ToF measurement procedure.

Example 69 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 66-68, andoptionally, wherein the subscribe frame includes a report indication toindicate whether or not the initiator of the ToF measurement procedureis to send to the responder of the ToF measurement procedure a report ofthe ToF measurement procedure.

Example 70 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 66-69, andoptionally, wherein the subscribe frame includes a ToF measurementinformation field including a first bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the subscribe frame is capable of being the initiator of theToF measurement procedure, a second bit to indicate whether or not thesender of the subscribe frame is capable of being the responder of theToF measurement procedure, a third bit to indicate a preference of thesender of the subscribe frame to be the initiator of the ToF measurementprocedure, and a fourth bit to indicate whether or not the initiator ofthe ToF measurement procedure is to send to the responder of the ToFmeasurement procedure a report of the ToF measurement procedure.

Example 71 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 61-70, andoptionally, comprising means for transmitting the discovery frame to thesecond wireless device.

Example 72 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 61-70, andoptionally, comprising means for receiving the discovery frame from thesecond wireless device.

Example 73 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 61-72, andoptionally, wherein the ToF measurement procedure comprises a FineTiming Measurement (FTM) procedure.

Example 74 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 61-73, andoptionally, comprising means for communicating the discovery frame overa wireless communication channel over a 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz) frequencyband or a 5 GHz frequency band.

Example 75 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 61-74, andoptionally, wherein the discovery frame is a Neighbor AwarenessNetworking (NAN) service discovery frame.

Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein withreference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may beutilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations,components and/or features described herein with reference to one ormore other embodiments, or vice versa.

While certain features of have been illustrated and described herein,many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur tothose skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that theappended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changesas fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a memory; and aprocessor configured to cause a first Neighbor Awareness Networking(NAN) device to: transmit a first NAN frame to a second NAN device toindicate that the first NAN device is to perform a role of an initiatorand that the second NAN device is to perform a role of a responder of aFine Timing Measurement (FTM) procedure; receive a second NAN frame fromthe second NAN device, the second NAN frame comprising a ranging reportbit to indicate whether or not the initiator is required to send to theresponder a ranging report based on the FTM procedure; perform the FTMprocedure with the second NAN device; and select whether or not totransmit the ranging report to the responder based on the ranging reportbit.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to cause the first NANdevice to select to transmit the ranging report to the responder whenthe ranging report bit comprises a predefined bit value to indicate thatthe initiator is required to send the ranging report to the responder.3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the predefined bit value is “1”. 4.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ranging report comprises a BasicService Set ID (BSSID) field, the BSSID field comprising a Medium AccessControl (MAC) address of the responder.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the first NAN frame comprises availability information toindicate one or more time intervals to perform the FTM procedure.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the second NAN frame comprisesavailability information to indicate one or more time intervals toperform the FTM procedure.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 configured tocause the first NAN device to transmit a NAN Service Discovery Frame(SDF) comprising capability information to indicate that the first NANdevice has both an initiator capability and a responder capability ofthe FTM procedure.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to cause thefirst NAN device to have both an initiator capability and a respondercapability of the FTM procedure.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe FTM procedure comprises a single burst FTM procedure.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 1 configured to cause the first NAN device to performthe FTM procedure by transmitting an FTM request to the responder,receiving from the responder an acknowledgement (Ack), and exchangingone or more message sequences with the responder, a message sequence ofthe one or more message sequences comprises an FTM message from theresponder to the initiator, and an Ack from the initiator to theresponder.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a radio.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 1 comprising one or more antennas.
 13. A productcomprising one or more tangible computer-readable non-transitory storagemedia comprising computer-executable instructions operable to, whenexecuted by at least one processor, enable the at least one processor tocause a first Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) device to: transmit afirst NAN frame to a second NAN device to indicate that the first NANdevice is to perform a role of an initiator and that the second NANdevice is to perform a role of a responder of a Fine Timing Measurement(FTM) procedure; receive a second NAN frame from the second NAN device,the second NAN frame comprising a ranging report bit to indicate whetheror not the initiator is required to send to the responder a rangingreport based on the FTM procedure; perform the FTM procedure with thesecond NAN device; and select whether or not to transmit the rangingreport to the responder based on the ranging report bit.
 14. The productof claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstNAN device to select to transmit the ranging report to the responderwhen the ranging report bit comprises a predefined bit value to indicatethat the initiator is required to send the ranging report to theresponder.
 15. The product of claim 13, wherein the ranging reportcomprises a Basic Service Set ID (BSSID) field, the BSSID fieldcomprising a Medium Access Control (MAC) address of the responder. 16.The product of claim 13, wherein the first NAN frame comprisesavailability information to indicate one or more time intervals toperform the FTM procedure.
 17. The product of claim 13, wherein theinstructions, when executed, cause the first NAN device to transmit aNAN Service Discovery Frame (SDF) comprising capability information toindicate that the first NAN device has both an initiator capability anda responder capability of the FTM procedure.
 18. The product of claim13, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the first NAN deviceto perform the FTM procedure by transmitting an FTM request to theresponder, receiving from the responder an acknowledgement (Ack), andexchanging one or more message sequences with the responder, a messagesequence of the one or more message sequences comprises an FTM messagefrom the responder to the initiator, and an Ack from the initiator tothe responder.
 19. An apparatus comprising: means for causing a firstNeighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) device to transmit a first NAN frameto a second NAN device to indicate that the first NAN device is toperform a role of an initiator and that the second NAN device is toperform a role of a responder of a Fine Timing Measurement (FTM)procedure; means for causing the first NAN device to receive a secondNAN frame from the second NAN device, the second NAN frame comprising aranging report bit to indicate whether or not the initiator is requiredto send to the responder a ranging report based on the FTM procedure;means for causing the first NAN device to perform the FTM procedure withthe second NAN device; and means for causing the first NAN device toselect whether or not to transmit the ranging report to the responderbased on the ranging report bit.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19comprising means for selecting to cause the first NAN device to transmitthe ranging report to the responder when the ranging report bitcomprises a predefined bit value to indicate that the initiator isrequired to send the ranging report to the responder.